It appears that the Canadians, particularly in the Montreal area once used Scottish firebricks to clad their new builds, particularly mansion-style houses. Firebricks are heat resistant but in the same breath they can withstand severe cold without flaking or cracking like ordinary bricks hence many houses were built with them in Montreal. From the sample adverts below it seems to have been a big selling point.
Below – 1892 – Place D’Armes – this large square, used for military drills and parades during the French regime, is dominated by Château Frontenac, Quebec City, Quebec, a massive hotel of Scottish firebrick and grey limestone built in 1892 on the site of Fort St Louis to resemble a 16th-century chateau. – page 141.
Below – 19/12/1939– The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 25/07/1941 – The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 16/02/1942 – The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 02/07/1943 – The Montreal Gazette.
17/11/1944 – The Montreal Gazette.
Below – 02/09/1948 – The Montreal Gazette.
The following Scottish bricks were found by Tracie Perrie on the shore at Borden, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Below – ‘Glenboig’. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire Below – ‘Gartcraig Scotland Gaskil’. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow….
Found by Dr Ali Asghar Hemmati in an old building previously belonging to the Iranian oil company located in Haftgel City in the province of Khuzestan, Iran. James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. . .
Found by Jeffrey Valli on the railroad tracks in Truro, Massachusetts, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Many thanks to Gustavo Coronel for the following information. This ‘Crater’ brick was found in lime kiln furnace No 5, Malagueño, Córdoba, Argentina. Gustavo states that bricks stamped ‘Etna’ were also found lining the furnace but no photograph is available as yet. Manufactured by the Etna or Atlas Brickworks, Armadale, West Lothian. . . ….
Found by Fakhru Redha on the Riau Islands, Indonesia. Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire or the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company which took over the Castlecary company and works in 1936 (Via General Refractories, Sheffield) and continued the ‘GEM’ and ‘Castlecary’ brand names. . . .
Found by Reuben Bartolo in a fireplace in Mosta, Malta. Reuben states – The building itself is from the 1500s, I would guess the fireplace is around 1950s. The bricks were between the limestone blocks, behind the fireplace itself. James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. .
Found by Theresa Wentzell on Oxner’s beach Riverport, Nova Scotia, Canada. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Many thanks to Chris Lowe for the following information. Chris states the bricks were found in an old fireplace on his family’s property in Oregon, USA. There may be a thumbprint to the top right. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings…
Found by James Floyd on the beach at Coffin’s Harbour, New Island, Falkland Islands. Caledonia Fireclay Works, Paisley, Renfrewshire. . . . .
Found by Ray Thorn at Grandbay, New Brunswick, Canada. Note the thumbprint to the top right. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
